Safety regulator, Empire Industries Announce Recall of Children's Riding Vehicles
Recall 00176 · Aug 31, 2000 · Empire Industries
113,000
units affected
113,000
units affected
Facts
- Recall number
- 00176
- Date
- Aug 31, 2000
- Company
- Empire Industries
- Units affected
- 113,000
- Product
- "Power Drivers" and "Buddy L" battery-powered children's riding vehicles
- Product type
- Toy Ride-on
- Hazard
- Fire
The product
The recalled battery-powered children's riding vehicles were marketed as "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L" and are powered by two 6-volt batteries, and were manufactured from July 1995 to December 1996. The vehicles are made of plastic and were sold under the following model names: Go-Kart, Beach Splash, Sun Dream, Trail Tracker, Rescue Patrol, and Chevy Z-71 Pick-Up Truck. The model name "Power Drivers" or "Buddy L" appear on each vehicle. The company will help consumers identify if their model is part of the recall. Power Driver vehicles are intended for children 3 to 8 years old, and the vehicles' speed ranges from 2.5 to 5 mph, depending on the model.
What can happen
The vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children.
The fix
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately. Empire Industries is no longer in business and cannot provide charger adapters or other replacement parts. Consumers should discontinue use of these products, and discard or destroy them.
Incidents and where it was sold
- Incidents
- Five house fires have been reported, resulting in at least $100,000 in property damage. One child and one adult received burns to hands on overheated charger jacks.
- Sold at
- Toy stores and retail catalogs sold the vehicles nationwide, from July 1995 through December 1997, for about $130 to $250.
Related pages
Questions and answers
What should I do with the recalled "power drivers" and "buddy l" battery-powered children's riding vehicles?
Consumers should stop using the vehicles immediately. Empire Industries is no longer in business and cannot provide charger adapters or other replacement parts. Consumers should discontinue use of these products, and discard or destroy them.
What is the hazard?
The vehicles' battery chargers can overheat, presenting fire and injury hazards to children.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data; texts are shortened. Contact the company named above for the remedy.